Soldering iron apparatus



Oct. 21, 1941. R. D. HURST SOLDERING IRON APPARATUS Originl Filed July 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l LJ/n/Z NVENTOR.

R011 D. HursT.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 21, 1941. R. D. HURST SOLDERING IRQN APPARATUS Original Filed July 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Rog D. Hur-s.

ATTORNE Patented Oct. 2l, 1941 SOLDERING IRON APPARATUS Roy D. Hurst, Los Angeles, Calif.

substitute foiepplieation serial No. 285,054, July 17, 1939. This application December 8, 1940,

Serial N0. 368,900

10 Claims. l(Gi. 219-26i This invention relates to soldering irons.

The general object of the invention is to prof vide an improved electrically heated soldering iron and support.

A more speciilc object oi the invention is to provide a novel electrically heated soldering iron.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel soldering iron support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel carbon advancing device for with a soldering iron.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means forcontrolling a -Slow or.' current to tne heating apparatus of a soldering Laon.

A further object oi' the invention is to provide a novel solder advancing mechanism built into a soldering iron support.

Other objects and the advantages of this in.. vention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through a soldering iron including the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 with parts in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, showing the control;

Fig. i is a Dian view with parts broken away showing the support;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 3, Fig. 4 and showing the soldering iron in place;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on the plane oi line I-S, Fig. 4:

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary central sectional view 5 Referring to the drawing by reference characters I have shown my invention as embodied in a soldering iron which is indicated generally at Il. As shown the iron includes a handle I i which has a central bore i2 in which a sleeve I3 is arranged. The sleeve is held in place by a pin i4 which passes through the sleeve and through the handle and extends through a ferrule I3. At its rear end the sleeve i3 is threaded at I3 and engages a threaded metallic collar i1 suitably se cured in a closure cap i3.

The sleeve at its forward end has a tube I9 suitably secured thereto. The tube li 3 includes a threaded outer end 2li` which receives a threaded copper cap 2i which has an internal recess 22 and a reduced recess 23. vA carbon memberl 24 is xed in the recess '23 and includes an enlarged shoulder portion 23 adapted to be engagedby a carbon rod 23 mounted in a holder 21 which has resilient spring jaws 23.

The hoider; has a grooved rear portion 29 whi 1h is engaged by suitable packing means 30 which may be made of asbestos iiber and which slides along the tube i9. The holder end remote from the jaws 23 has a bore 3| which receives a reciprocating hollow rod 32 which slides through an insulating sleeve 33 which engages the adjacent portions of the sleeve I3 and the tube i9. A second insulating sleeve 34 surrounds the rod 32 and engages the interior of the sleeve i3. A split iocking spring 33 engages a groove in the sleeve 34 and a groove on the inner wall oi the tube I3 to hold the sleeve in place. The sleeve 34 includes a reduced portion 38 on which a spring 31 is held by lips 38 which engage between the coils oi' the spring. The spring 31 also engages a sliding member 39 and pulls this member towards the head of the soldering iron. The sliding member 33 is secured to the rod 32 by a rawhide pin 40 as shown in Fig. 1 which acts as a securing and insulating member.

The construction is such that the spring 31 urges the rod 32 towards the head so that the movable carbon 23 is urged into contact with the iixed carbon 24.

'I'he reciprocating rod 32 at the rear end includes spring jaws 4| to slidably receive the end 42 oi' a removable terminal 43.

The metallic collar I1 has an integral hollow base 44 thereon which passes through the cap i3 and receives the tip 43 of a removable termi- A nal 43.

When the current is on the circuit is completed through the tip 43 to the collar i1, thence through the sleeve I3, tube I3, cap 2i and xed 'I i and which has an aperture 33 receiving the 2 asados@ V(rod 32. The collar di engages one face of the ber knob 54 is moved rearwardly the body of the l0 'control member tilts causing the wall of the aperture 58 to nrst bind against the rod 32 after which further movement of the knob 54 moves. the rod 32 with it to the position shown in Fig. 2

where the movable carbon is spaced from the l5 fixed carbon so that the circuit is broken and the heating eilect ceases.

As shown in Fig. 3 the slot E! includes offset ends 56 which form a bayonet joint permitting the control member to move to either side thus 28 locking the movable carbon spaced from the xed carbon. Movement of the knob 54 is resisted by the spring 48 which must be compressed to allow the knob to be moved to circuit interrupting position and which serves to move the control mem- 25 ber to normal operative position when the portion58 is aligned with the slot 5|. A w

The support member indicated generally at 68 includes a base 6| and a housing 62. The housing includes a shallow front portion 63 and a deeper 80 rear portion 64 with a handle 65 mounted on the portion 64 so that it is adjacent the center of gravity of the apparatus so that it may be readily transported.

Mounted within the housing 62 I show a trans- 35 former 66 from which a pair of leads 61 and 68 extend. 'I'he lead 61 includes a terminal 89 adapted to be connected to one side of a source of current supply indicated at 18. The lead 68 is connected to a contact 1| mounted on an in- 40 sulated block 12 supported in an inner housing 13 which is shown as mounted on the transformer 66. 'I'he contact 1I is in the path of movement of a circuit closing arm 14 which is pivoted at 15 on the block 12. The block 12 includes a binding 45 post 16 which supports a spring 11 which normally urges the arm 14 against the contact`1l. 'I'he spring 11 is connected through the binding post to a lead 18 which is connected to a temilnal 19 which is adapted to engage the other side 58 of the line at 88.

'I'he inner housing 13 is provided with aligned apertures 8| and 82 through which a head receiving support 83 extends. The support includes reduced portions 84 and 85 which provide shoul- 55 ders 86 and 81. The reduced portions 84 and 85 are of such size that they allow the head receiving support to shift from the full line position shown in Fig.- 10 to the broken line position shown full line position when the iron I8 `is removed. When the iron is in place as shown in Flgklil, the iron assumes the dotted line position shown in this figure and pushes upwardly on a sliding post 88 causing the latter to engage a pin 89 65 made of fiber or other insulating material and mounted on the arm 14. This action breaks the primary or 110 volt circuit to the transformer. The transformer 66 is connected by leads 98 and 9| to the terminals 43 and 46, previously men- 70 tioned. The leads 98 and 9| are also connected to a lamp 92 which is illuminated when the transformer is operating.

Within the portion 63 of the housing 62 I provide a pair of spaced spring arms 85 which at one 75 end are suitably secured to the sides of the hous- .on the rod 91. and is rotatable thereon. The

solder spool 98 has a length of wire solder 99 wound thereon.

Depending from the top of the housing portion 68 I provide a housing |88 which has a bore |8| therethrough. At one end of the housing |88 a tube |82 is positioned in the bore |8| and one end of the tube |82 is preferably outwardly ared as at |82' and the other end of the tube is bevelled as indicated at |83. Spaced a predetermined distance from the end |83 of the tube |82 the bore |8| has a xed collar |84 therein having an aperture |85 therethrough. Positioned between the tube end 83 andthe collar |84 I provide a washer |86,

Positioned in the bore |8| I provide a feeder member |81 which has a bore |88 therethrough. The end of the feeder |81 remote from the collar |82 is bevelled as indicated at |89. Spaced from the end |89 the feeder includes a collar portion |8 connected .to the feeder by an'integral lip ||2. The collar portion ||8 has a bore ||3 therethrough aligned with the bore |88. Positioned between the collar portion 8 and the end |89 I- provide a washer I4.

The feeder |81 includes a depending arm ||5 which is positioned in a slot ||6 in the bottom of the housing |88. Positioned on the housing portion 63 I provide a plate member ||1 which has a trough portion ||8 extending through a suitable aperture in the topof the portion 63. At one end the plate ||1 includes a guide portion having a recess ||9 therein which communicates with the bore |8| of the housing |88.

Intermediate the length of the trough ||8 I provide a lever |28 which is pivoted intermediate its length as at |2| to bearing portions |22. The upper end of the lever extends through an aperture into and above the trough and is twisted to a position at right angles to the lower portion as at |28' Adjacent the lower end of the lever |28 one end of a bar |24 is pivotally secured thereto as at |25. The opposite end of the bar |24 is pivotally connected as at |26 to the arm ||5 of the feeder |81.

One end of a coiled spring 28 is connected to the lever |28 and the opposite end is anchored to a. lip |29 on the guide portion of the plate ||1.

In operation the solder 99 is threaded through the tube |82, the washer |86, the collar bore |85, the feeder bore 88, the washer |I4 and through the bore I3 of the collar ||8 and is extended through the housing bore |8| into the guide recess I9 of the plate member 1. in this figure. The support normally assumes the so When an operator wishes to extrude a length of solder and has the soldering iron in his hand he places the tip of the iron against the portion |28 of the lever 28 and pushes the portion |28' towards the enlarged portion 64 of the casing. As the lever |28 is thus moved the feeder member I 81 moves towards the plate ||1 and as it moves the bevelled face |89 tilts the washer ||4 clamping it on the solder and further movement of the feeder |81 carries the solder with it. (See Fig. '7.) When the operator removes the ironfrom the portion |28 of the lever |28 the spring |28 returns the lever to its normal position as shown in Fig. 6.

As the feeder member |81 begins to return to its normal position the `at face of the collar portion engages the washer ||4 and straightvens it up thereby releasing its grip on the solder.

' portion 83 of the housing. 'Ihe cup members |30 are adapted to receivea quantity of soldering nux.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a modified switch mechanism mounted on an inner housing 'i3' similarto the housing 13-and controlled by a movable head receiving support 83' similar to the support 83. A pair of arms |3| are pivotally attached to the housing 13' as at |32 and have lower portions |33 engaging the support 83 and upper portions |34 urged together by a spring |33. A pair of arms |38 are pivotally connected to the extremities of the portions |34 and are also pivotally connected to a rotatable switch |31 in such a manner that the switch |31 is operated when the iron I0 is inserted into the support 83'.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hollow electrical conducting tubular member mounted in said handle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a shiftable rod in said member. a second carbon on said rod, means to urge said rod towards said head, and a control member tiltable on said rod, said control member having a hole slightly larger than said rod and receiving said rod.

2. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hollow electrical conducting tubular member mounted in saidhandle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a rod slidable in said tubular member, a holder, mounted on said rod, packing means about the holder and engaging the interior of the tubular member, said holder including resilient jaws, a carbon in said jaws, means to urge said rod towards said head, a conductor engaging said tubular member, and a second conductor engaging said rod.

3. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hollow electrical conducting tubular member mounted in said handle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a rod slidable in said tubular member, a holder on said rod, a carbon in said holder, means to urge said rod towards said head, a conductor engaging said tubular member, a second conductor engaging said rod, and a control member tiltably mounted on said rod and movable on the handle, said control member having a hole slightly larger than said rod and receiving said rod.

4. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hollow electrical conducting tubular member mounted in said handle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a hollow insulating sleeve in said member, a rod slidable through said sleeve, a holder slidable on said rod and insulated from said tubular member, said holder having means thereon for engaging a carbon, a second hollow insulating sleeve in said tubular member, said rod extending through said second sleeve, and means to urge said rod towards said head.

5. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a

hollow electrical conducting member mounted on said handle, a hollow metal head on said member, a carbon removably mounted in said head, a metal rod mounted to reciprocate in said body, said rod having a metal carbon holder thereon. means to insulate said rod and holder from said member and head, means constantly urging said rod towards said head, an operating member including a portion engaging said rod for shifting said rod away from said head, a cap on said handle, said cap having an aperture, a contact slidable through said ca'p aperture and having an end portion fitted in said rod, and a second contact mounted on said hollow member.

6. In a soldering iron, a hcllow handle, a hollow electrical conducting member mounted on said handle, a hollow metal head on said mem-A ber, a carbon removably mounted in said head, a metal rod mounted to reciprocate in said body, said rod having a metal holder thereon, means to insulate said rod and holder from said member and head, said holder including resilient portions, a second carbon engaged by said resilient portions and disposed adjacent the ilrst carbon,

Ameans constantly urging said rod towards said head, an operating member on said handle, said operating member including a portion engaging said rod for shifting said rod away from said head, means to hold the operating member with the rod away from the head, a cap on said handle, said cap having an aperture, a contact slidable through said cap aperture and having an end portion fitted in said rod, and a second contact mounted on said hollow member,

7. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hol low electrical conducting tubular member mounted in said handle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a hollow insulating sleeve in said member, a rod slidable through said sleeve, a holder slidable on said rod and insulated from said tubular member, said holder having means thereon for engaging a carbon, a second hollow insulating sleeve in said tubular member, said rod extending through said second sleeve, means to urge said rod towards said head, a cap on said handle, a metal collar in said cap and engaging said member, a conductor terminal engaging said collar, a second terminal engaging said rod, a collar slidable on said rod and disposed between said ilrst sleeve and said second sleeve, a spring about said rod and engaging said collar and said second sleeve, said handle having an aperture and a control member extending through said aperture, said control member including a body between said collar and first sleeve member, said body having a hole slightly larger than said rod and receiving said rod.

8. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hollow electrical conducting membermountedinsaid handle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a hollow insulating sleeve in said member, a rod slidable through said sleeve, a holder on said rod, said holder being slidable within and insulated from said sleeve, said 4holder having means thereon for engaging a carbon, a carbon engaged by said means, a second hollow insulating sleeve in said member, said rod extending through said second sleeve, means to urge said rod towards said head,

a cap on said handle, a metal collar in said cap and engaging said hollow member, a conductor terminal engaging said collar, a second terminal engaging said rodand slidable through said cap, a collar slidable on said rod and disposed between said /rst sleeve and said second sleeve, a

e spring about said rod and engaging ,said collar 9. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a holu low electrical conducting member mounted in said handle and projecting therefrom, a metal head on said member, a carbon in said head, a hollow insulating sleeve in said member, a rod slidable through said sleeve, a holder on said rod, said holder being slidable within and insulated from said sleeve. said holder having means thereon for engaging a carbon, a carbon engaged by said means, a second hollow insulating sleeve in said member, said rod extending through said second sleeve, a sliding member within said hollow member and secured to said rod and spaced from said second sleeve, a spring having one end secured to said second sleeve and the other end secured to said sliding member, said spring urge ing saidrod towards said head, a cap on said handle, a metal collar in said cap and engaging said hollow member, a conductor terminal enasados@ gaging said collar, a second terminal engaging said rod and slidable through said cap, a collar slidable on said rod and disposed between said rst sleeve and said second sleeve. a spring about said rod and engaging said collar and said second sleeve, said'handle having an aperture, a control member extending through said aperture, said l0. In a soldering iron, a hollow handle, a hollow electrical conducting member mounted on said handle, a hollow metal head on said member,

a carbon removably mounted in said head, e.`

metal rod mounted to reciprocate in said body, said rod having a metal carbon holder thereon, means to insulate said rod and holder from said member and'head, an operating member .for

shifting said rod away from said head, an end member on said handle, said end member having an aperture', a contact slidable through said aperture and having an end portion engaging said rod, and a second contact .mounted on said hollow member.

. ROY D. HURST. 

